Asthma decisions — 2023

The Board denied service connection for bronchial asthma, COPD, bilateral hearing loss, and a bilateral eye disability due to lack of evidence of current disabilities during the pendency of the claim.,Service connection was also denied for degenerative arthritis as it had already been approved by the Regional Office.

The Veteran's asthma was first manifested during active service in Afghanistan and is related to burn pit exposure. The Board has granted service connection for asthma, reopening the claim based on new evidence.

The Veteran's asthma is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as there was no evidence of findings of FEV-1 or FEV-1/FVC of 40 to 55 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting evidence regarding the Veteran's current respiratory disorders and their relationship to his military service, particularly given his exposure to burn pits. The Veteran is entitled to a VA examination to clarify these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and his active service, including exposure to asbestos.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's asthma and its relation to service, including PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the left arm and right arm disability claims, and denied all issues of increased rating or service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a recurrent respiratory disability, including COPD and asthma, finding that the disabilities did not originate during active service or are otherwise related to it.

The Veteran's bronchial asthma was incurred in service and has been continuously present since separation. The Board granted service connection for this disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's respiratory condition, specifically asthma and reactive airway disease. The Veteran needs to be provided with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her respiratory conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected sarcoidosis and asthma do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for asthma is being remanded due to the need for clarification on his use of medications and a new examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's asthma, specifically whether it is related to service or secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis. The case will be returned for further examination and opinions on direct service connection and secondary service connection.

The Veteran's asthma, bronchial with dermatitis is rated at more than 30 percent prior to March 20, 2018 and more than 60 percent thereafter. The Board has found that remand is necessary for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cardiovascular disability, allergies/allergic rhinitis, lesions/lung nodules, and diverticulitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to service and that his symptoms are more consistent with bronchitis.

The Board has remanded the claims for asthma and sarcoidosis as service connection is being evaluated based on exposure to hazardous chemicals at Camp Lejeune. The VA examiner will need to review additional medical literature submitted by the Veteran's representative.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service personnel records and a need for further development regarding the Veteran's asthma.

The Veteran's service-connected respiratory conditions (bronchitis, asthma, and OSA) are currently rated as a single disability under the criteria for sleep apnea with asthma and chronic bronchitis associated with allergic rhinitis. The Board found that separate ratings for these conditions are not warranted due to the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 4.96(a).

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not manifest in service and is unrelated to service.,The probative evidence of record does not support a finding that the Veteran's allergic rhinitis began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,There is no evidence to support a diagnosis of asthma or any chronic upper respiratory disability at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including asbestosis, asthma, COPD, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, radiculopathy, and bilateral hearing loss, have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since March 2005. The Board has granted an extraschedular TDIU for the period from March 22, 2005 to April 22, 2019.